Boise Parking?

[Brian Harper]

I'm hoping someone here familiar with the greater Boise area can point me in the right direction. In the middle of August Pierre and I are going to trailer our bikes to Boise and then spend a week in Montana, Glacier, Alberta, BC, Washington and Oregon riding our Guzzis about the country side, and then haul it back home. Turns out the hardest logistical part of this trip has been where to put the pickup and motorcycle trailer while we traipse about. I would just park it in Long Term parking at the airport but they don't like trailers. Can't park it on the street because it will get ticketed after three days and probably towed before we get back. Pierre has a connection at Western Powersports who said we could park in their big lot, but the gates are locked all weekend and we are arriving and departing on a Saturday. So close, but no cigar.

Today I called an RV storage place. We'd have to rent a space for the whole month, that's no big deal, still cheaper than the airport for a week probably. Plus there's a setup fee. But then I'm out of state so I need to fill out the lease agreement and get it notarized, it needs to be returned to them within 24 hours, then when we show up in person we need to have valid registration in hand and be there when the admin lady is in the office to re-finalize all of the paperwork and we're arriving on a Saturday afternoon so there's guarantees she will be around.... For a parking spot for eight days. And I didn't even breech the subject with her of the trailer being registered to neither one of us, but I suspect that will be an issue just based on her explanation on how important valid registration is.

Before I go doing all of that, is there a local who has a better solution? Maybe a motorcycle shop with a big parking lot that wouldn't care if we took up a couple of spaces in back for a couple of days? Someone knows a machine shop with a couple of extra spaces that we could ask nicely? A warehouse where we could occupy a parking stall or two in the parking lot? Any leads appreciated.

[ITSec]

Are you staying at a hotel for the start and finish of your ride? Most will (if they have the space) be happy to let you park there, and may have enough security to make it safe.

If you can get a room, I highly recommend the Modern Hotel - it's not red suspender cheap (especially in tourist season) but it is a wonderful place, located in walking distance of many good restaurants and bars, and is my place of choice whenever I hit Boise.

[Caffeineo]

Let me know if you do not find anything. I am in Caldwell (30 miles west of Boise) and can work something out for a week at my house. Best if you will not be here at the time of the eclipse (Aug 21) as many people have high $$$ expectations (hotels, camping and just parking) and I'll have company with a truck and trailer for a couple days. Also there will just be a lot of traffic in the path the day of, before and after. Just not a good time to be enjoying a ride.

[Brian Harper]

Thanks, Caffeinio. Yes, we will be there during the eclipse. It isn't intentional and we are heading away from the totality, so I'm hoping it will be less crowded. When I found out the eclipse was during our week trip I considered postponing, but I made camping reservations on the night before and after and figured we'd be ok otherwise. Is it going to be nuts?

[Caffeineo]

Kind of hard to predict how many people will be coming. Of course the media is hyping it up predicting thousands and thousands of tourist. I think most, if not all hotels and motels in the path are booked. Oregon will be much more crowded than Idaho. I watch the show "Eclipse across America" and they completely skipped Idaho. Talked about how Oregon will be best as it is the beginning at the coast and then went on to praise the wide open sky's of Wyoming.  The closer it gets the more promotion I think will happen. Kind of crazy for a 2 minute event......like the early Mike Tyson fights. 

[rocker59]

Why not pay a small fee to park at a storage facility?

Most mini-storage facilities have a lot where they park boats and RVs.

They're usually securely fenced and gated. 

[Sheepdog]

I've done a bit of bicycle touring and we always just asked the folks at our hotel if we could park our vehicle in the back lot until we returned. We always offered a little money, but the desk clerk never accepted. A polite request always seemed to do the trick...